Digital skills for inclusive employment in Nicaragua

  • Country: Nicaragua.
  • Location: Departaments of Masaya, Managua, León, Chinandega and Estelí.
  • Duration: January 2026 to June 2027.
  • Participants: 150 young people between the ages of 16 and 30, 50% women, and 20% with disabilities, in situations of economic vulnerability, living in peri-urban and rural areas of 5 departments of Nicaragua.
  • Area of specialization: Vocational training and microenterprise and job placement.

Starting point

Data from the National Institute of Development Information (INIDE) indicates that despite efforts, poverty remains a prevalent phenomenon in rural and peri-urban Nicaragua, with higher rates than in urban areas.

Meeting basic needs with low incomes hinders access to education, which in turn contributes to the cycle of scarcity and reduces their chances of finding formal employment or starting their own businesses. The difficulties in accessing the formal education system are a reality for many young people in these areas, whether due to the need to work at an early age, the lack of resources to pay for studies, or the geographical inaccessibility of educational centers.

Young people, particularly those without adequate training or with interrupted educational paths, face difficulties finding employment, especially in rural areas.

The situation of young single mothers in Nicaragua is particularly vulnerable. They face challenges accessing the formal education system and, shouldering the responsibility of raising children without support, are relegated to precarious, low-paying temporary jobs.

In the specific case of people with disabilities, the barriers are even greater. They face difficulties accessing education, and their struggles to find employment are compounded by a lack of physical accessibility and the absence of reasonable accommodations in work and educational environments

Objective

To contribute to the increase of labor inclusion and income generation for young people, women and people with disabilities in five departments of western Nicaragua.

What is the project about

The project aims to promote labor inclusion as an engine of development, aligning with government priorities such as strengthening technical training, promoting inclusive employment, fostering entrepreneurship in the creative economy, reducing the digital divide, and promoting local economic development in the five departments.

Its implementation is organized into four phases, designed to complement and strengthen existing national initiatives:

  1. In the initial phase, the program establishes a foundation by training the team, creating strategic alliances with key stakeholders, and designing accessible materials, thus preparing the ground for subsequent stages.
  2. The skills development phase focuses on fostering employability through tailored digital training and developing job search skills.
  3. The job placement facilitation phase aims to create employment by connecting with the business sector and formalizing inclusive hiring agreements, while also promoting entrepreneurship based on the creative economy through business ideation and planning workshops.
  4. The monitoring and evaluation phase ensures the measurement of the impact and sustainability of the actions, strengthening the established strategic alliances.

This comprehensive and participatory methodology addresses the multiple dimensions of labor exclusion faced by young people and people with disabilities, aiming to generate a sustainable, long-term impact by building strategic alliances and empowering beneficiaries to become protagonists of their own economic development.

The project’s actions are directly aligned with the priorities of the Government of Nicaragua in key areas such as strengthening technical training (in collaboration with INATEC), promoting the labor inclusion of young people and people with disabilities, fostering entrepreneurship in the creative economy, reducing the digital divide through training, and contributing to local economic development in five departments. By complementing and strengthening government initiatives and working in collaboration with national institutions, the project seeks to contribute effectively to the country’s inclusive economic and social development.

Entities that support this project